9 Books to Read Before You Die

Books are truly amazing. Imagination, wisdom, entertainment and information all wrapped up into one nice package of pages, or as the case may be, electronic file.

However, there are so many of them. There are actually millions. So the big question is, “what are the books that you must read,” particularly in the first half of life when you are attempting so diligently to do so much and wanting to know all that life can offer you. I will start out by stating that so many books could have easily made it onto my list. However, I assume that like me, you read many of them in school. However, it may still be worth reading through some of those classic once again.

The following is my list of books that you really must read before you die:

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Hopefully I don’t need to explain why this particular book is so very important. Most likely you read it in school, but you should read it again. It very well might be the ultimate book when it comes to the power of strength and hope in the middle of atrocities that truly are unspeakable. It serves as a reminder that we can never let the evil in this world defeat us.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Rape, racism, poverty. Coming of age amid all of that. It is both empowering and heartbreaking in way that only Maya can pull off.

Attitudes of Gratitude: How to Give and Receive Joy Everyday of Your Life by M.J. Ryan

In this book Ryan demonstrates that whenever we allow ourselves to express and feel appreciation, it makes us feel healthier, younger and happier. A powerful feeling of happiness is created by gratitude whenever we notice what is right about something rather than what it wrong. This teaches us how to unlock all of life’s fullness.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This is another book that you might have read in school. However, it is definitely worth reading again, and this time through your adult eyes. It’s about having the courage to do the right thing.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

This book has a simple message: the path to both enlightenment and happiness is living in the now. This is a great manual on how our emotions and thoughts get in our way of being able to live in genuine happiness and peace.

Below is a video of Eckhart Tolle explaining the divine purpose of the universe:

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

This book is based on Frankl’s experiences in the Nazi death camps. He argues that we can’t avoid suffering. However, what we can do is make the choice of how we cope and find meaning with it, and then with renewed purpose move forward.

Most of us unfortunately send much of our lives attempting to overcome our weaknesses rather than developing our strengths, when actually the truth is that it is our strengths that will make us professionally and personally successful.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Sooner or later, all of us consider our deaths and think about what matters the most. If we only know it was our final opportunity, think of all of the wisdom we could leave to the world. This lecture was given by computer science professor Randy Pausch, who was diagnosed recently with a terminal illness. It expresses the importance of seizing very moment, enabling others dreams and how important it is to overcome obstacles.

The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz

This book shows how the key to life balance, happiness, health and performance is learning how to manage our energy instead of time. The major insight here can give us the power to completely revolutionize our lives.

If you are one of the numerous people who don’t read on a regular basis, then you could be really missing out. There are a number of significant benefits that reading can provide you with. We have listed some of the more important benefits below in the article: 10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day.